News

Dec 15th, 2017

Coul Links responds to RSPB statement

As development battle heats up

Words: GolfPunk

In response to a RSPB news release issued yesterday, Coul Links has issued the following statement.

Chris Haspell, Project Manager for Coul Links, said: “Detailed studies have taken place at Coul Links in relation to the potential impacts of the proposed development. SNH and our team agree on this and these have simply been ignored by the RSPB in their latest inaccurate and inexplicable comments. The development touches on less than 2% of the overall site.

“Far from destroying this important habitat, the Coul Links proposal represents the only funded management plan to prevent the site being lost.

“Ironically, the two species they’ve highlighted - wigeon and teal - are actually directly threatened by the RSPB's plans. At present, these birds are legally shot throughout the winter, but as part of the mitigation outlined by our proposed golf course, this shooting would permanently cease.

“If the RSPB has its way the shooting, and its associated disturbance within the designated site, will continue – the first time we are aware of the RSPB lobbying for the continued shooting of birds within a designated site.

“Their comments are so laced with inaccuracies that we have decided to write to the RSPB Council to register our concern that RSPB Scotland should issue what appears to be deliberate misinformation.”